How To Start A Project Whitehall Project Teachers:

Todd Breitenfeldt And Mike Battaiola

Subject of Talk: Overview of Whitehall

Project Strategies to start Replicable Other Similar Programs Benefits

Projects Do Not Appear Out Of No Where!

Overview of Whitehall/WHE Start Small, K.I.S!

knapweed insectary

Bio-agent collection

Bio-agent release/augmentation

Release site location, monitoring & mapping

Land owner relations – are GREAT!

Public collection days – are FUN!

Education: teachers & landowners

Start Small, K.I.S.! Pick 2-3 weeds, 5-6 bio-agents of focus

Choose area of focus, plan budget

Locate teachers/groups in it for the long term

One person in charge

Be patient, plan for expansion.

Be Patient!

Yearly Cycle-Winter: Talk to students about job next summer, plan of work, MWCA Annual Meeting, present grants

-Spring: Hire students, order needed supplies, begin articles

-Late Spring: Train students, clean up insectaries, transplant replacement plants, plan release site monitoring schedule

-Early Summer: finish insectaries, call all land owners, begin monitoring at correct times for bio-agents, begin field collections

-Summer: Maintain insectaries, continue monitoring, collections, hold public collection days, plan for future funding/write grants

-Mid/Late Summer: Make sure insectary flashing/netting is secure, begin Cyphocleonus collections, update records

-Early Fall: students collect weevils -Fall: winterize equipment and insectaries, turn in grants…..sit back and smile at a job well done!

Too Many Cooks…

Insectary mass rear knapweed insects:

Produce: 1000-3000 Cyphocleonus achates weevils and ~500-1,600 Agapeta zoegana moths each year

Insectary gardens on school grounds = great ed. opportunity students collect, help maintain + tours

Quite labor intensive – school, crews

Our problem: we are out of pullable knapweed in So. Jefferson Co.!

Whitehall Insectary Views:

Other Insectaries:

Bio-Agent Collection: Different method for each bio-agent “know the label!”

Sweep nets, hand pick, vac., accelerator, aspirator or pump

Contact all landowners w/ bio-release sites: educate & monitor

GPS map and monitor bio-release sites

Hold public bio-agent collection (net) days.

Pay Attention to the weather and timing of insect populations

Collection Views:

Bio-Agent Release/Augmentation: Plan release sites

Release at proper time and in good habitat

Augment ‘till well established.

Release Site Location, Mapping & Monitoring

Land Owners Relations -Are GREAT!!!

Each year call every land owner and ask them what they want us to do: nothing, monitor, redistribute, augment and/or public collection day

Great way to educate about IPM! Land Owners come to expect this service Good PR for County, School and all weed fighters Find and utilize useful bursts of insects!

Public Collection Days – Are FUN!!

Land owners have “ownership”

Great education opportunity

PR Value!

Education: Teachers educating students about weeds

Whitehall Project Summer Classes

Noxious Weed Curriculum

Educate local land owners